UST®

Manufactured by Innowep

Models

UST 50

UST 100

UST 1000

Universal Surface Tester with high local resolution for deformation,
damping, topography, micro-friction and many more.

Universal Surface Solution within One System

UST® is designed to deliver quantitative mechanical characterization of surface analysis within one open platform in nanometer resolution.

It serves best to the R&D center of our industrial partners and research institutes all over the world.

Built on a patented measurement protocol, the UST provides essential and reliable surface profiler solutions in both 2D & 3D in the nanometer resolution with a centimeter measuring range.

It perfectly closes the gap of a classical AFM and a macrometer surface analysis instrument.

UST® – Universal Surface Tester, is the only open multi-modular system that provides a complete mechanical testing solution for the evaluation of bulk materials and surface coatings. Over 10 measurements can be accomplished and over 60 different test tips have been developed to meet the diversity of your characterization requirements.

The basic unit of UST® has three versions:

UST 100 (loading range 1mN-100mN)
UST 1000 (loading range 10mN-1000mN)
UST 50 (loading range 2-50N).

The basic unit consists of floor-stand cabinet, measurement head with 3 tips, automatic X-Y table and data acquisition system.

Features

Excellent vertical force control
Easy touch screen settings input
High life cycle actuator with moving coil technology
Easy set-up and quiet operation
Automatic shut-off
Large fixture test area for large or multiple parts
Continuity Detect Ports for detection of switch activation at each
Counts activations and misses.

Adequate measurements are of great importance for a reliable simulation and evaluation of micromechanical properties of materials and surface coatings, such as deformation of haptics. As material and coating behavior can vary considerably, a series of proper, real-time, quantitative measurements must be performed with high resolution in the right dimension. UST® – Universal Surface Tester, is by far the only open multi-modular system that provides a complete mechanical testing solution for the evaluation of bulk materials and surface coatings. Its unique configuration allows for a wide range of tip choices with various materials and sizes ranging from nanometer to centimeter.

MEASUREMENT HEAD	100mN	1000mN	50N
Height Range	4 mm	4 mm	10 mm
Height Accuracy	60 nm	60 nm	50 nm
Load Range	1-100mN	10-1000mN	2-50N
Measure the Applied Load	NO	NO	YES
Auto Calibrate Tips	NO	NO	YES

X-Y TABLE TECHNICAL DATA

Speed: 0.1 – 2 mm/s
Measurement Area: 50mm x 50mm
X-Y Axis Displacement Resolution: 1μm

NEW FEATURES – 2024 MODELS

Automated Z-Axis (also allows for automatic approach to the sample)
A step sequence programmer for defining measurement routines and introducing new modules
Auto-detection of the connected head

Basic unit

Option 1: UST® 100
Load range: 1mN – 100mN

Option 2: UST® 1000
Load range: 10mN – 1000mN (for harder surfaces and coatings)

Option 3: UST® 50N
Load range: 2N – 50N

UST® Universal Surface Tester includes:

2D Deformation Measurement
Tip check Calibration
3 Standard Tips (2 Steel Cones, Ball)
1 Big Clamp
1 Small Clamp
Tools
Screws

Weinhold’s Method

Step 1 – Scan with no load. Surface structure is continously determined.

Step 2 – Scan on the same path with additional load to determine total deformation.

Step 3 – Scan on the same path with no load to determine the elastic deformation.

Total deformation = Step 1 – Step 2
Elastic deformation = Step 3 – Step 2
Permanent deformation = Step 1 – Step 3

Standards & Specifications

DIN EN ISO 14577-1 • DIN 4762, 4768 • ISO 4287, 4288

A selection of 10 different modules is available for all types of measurements and applications. Each module includes all necessary hardware, software, suggested tip, and necessary tools.

MODULE 1: 3D DEFORMATION

Performs several single scans automatically on an area and registers the 3D deformation properties of a complete surface.
– 3D Deformation
– Tips: Diamond Cone 60°/90°/120°, Steel Cone 60°

MODULE 2: 3D TOPOGRAPHY

Performs several single scans automatically on an area and registers both: the 3D topography and the material properties of a complete surface.
– 3D Topography
– 3D Roughness
– Particle Mode
– Tips: Diamond Cone 60° | 90° | 120°
Steel Cone 60°

MODULE 3: SCRATCH

Standard Scratch (Budget Version)
Standard scratch test with local surface profile
Tip: Scratch Diamond 5° undercut

Micro Scratch with Microfriction (Premium Version)
Hardware:
– Friction table with high resolution piezo sensor
– Controller card for PC
– Sample fixing and clamping set
Tip: Scratch Diamond 5° undercut
Continuous measurements along one line on a sample made out of three different materials: wood, flat, polymer, polymer with grooves for the correlation of surface profile and microfiction.

MODULE 4: MICROFICTION (STANDARD)

Measures the friction force between a sample and the tip during a scan with an accuracy in nM.
Hardware:
– Friction table with sensor
– Controller card for PC
– Sample fixing and clamping

Micro Fiction + 2D Topography
Micro Fiction + 2D Deformation
Tip: Customized tip on request (e.g. haptical tip)

MODULE 5: ABRASION AND WEAR

Measures the abrasion rate with certain load repeating several times.
– Total Abrasion
– Wear Rate
– Tip: Steel Ball 20mm
Red Line (1st measurement): surface profile
Blue Line (4th measurement): last measurement
Green Line (2nd measurement): with 1st load
Purple Line (3rd measurement): 50th Abrasion time

MODULE 6: DAMPING

– Special measuring mode for examining the elastic behavior of soft materials.
– Surface height profile is continuously recorded.
– Damping Oscilation
– Tip: Papilary stylus or customized tip on request.

MODULE 7: VISCOELASTICITY (CREEPING & RECOVERY)

– 3-Step Measurement
– Materials reaction under strain and the relief property
– Tip: Customized tip on request

MODULE 8: UNIVERSAL HARDNESS

– According to DIN EN ISO 14577-1
– 2-Step Measurement
– Total Deformation
– Tip: Vickers Diamond | Berkovich-Diamond or customized tip on request

MODULE 9: UNIVERSAL HARDNESS

– According to DIN 4762, 4768 | ISO 4287, 4288

– Scan once with a certain load

– Ra, Rq, Rz

– Automatic filter selection

– Tip: Diamond Cone 60° | 90° | 120°, Steel Cone 60°

MODULE 10: TAX

High quality measurement module for the evaluation of the abrasive wear resistance on the micro and macro scale.
It is available as a module on UST® or provide as a micro-calotester: TAPERADER®

Hardware Options

Exchangeable Measurement Head: UST® 100 mN and UST® 1000 mN
Microscope: for documentation of the measurement process and results (photo function)
Videocamera: for documentation of the measurement process and results (video function)
Optical 3D Topography Module: non-tactile optical measurement of 3D topography
Vacuum Plate Package: for fixing samples. (Vacuum pump is included)
Mini-Clamping Tool Set: fixing tool for harder samples
Quick Plates: for easy and quick fixture of samples
New X-Y automatic sample table and all software are available for upgrade. Please, contact our technical
engineer department for detailed information.

Upgrade Options

New X-Y automatic sample table and all software are available for upgrade. Please, contact our technical
engineer department for detailed information.

Steel Tip Groups
Steel ball: 0.8 mm
1.8 mm
5.0 mm
Steel Cibe: 60°

Other Tip Groups
Cutting tool
Aluminum ball 20mm
Table Tenis
Juby | Leather | Papillar=

Diamond Tip Groups
Diamond Pyramid 60°
Diamond 60°
Diamond 90°
Diamond 120°